asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the national school at Drumboylan, County Roscommon, is to be used on 22nd March, 1953, for a whist drive in aid of Boyle Comhairle Ceantair Fianna Fáil; and, if so, whether he will state if this school is available for the use of all political Parties; and, further, whether all national schools are similarly available; also if he will ascertain from the school manager whether the use of this school was sought by other political Parties and refused; and finally if he will state the circumstances and conditions under which it has been made available to the body already mentioned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of County Roscommon National School.
I am not aware of any proposal to use the national school at Drumboylan— Scoil Mhuire—for the purpose stated in the question nor have I any record of application from political Parties to use the school for that or any other purpose. That being so, the concluding query in the Deputy's question does not arise.
Is the Minister aware that a public advertisement appeared in all the Roscommon newspapers last week, the week before and the week before that again stating that the Boyle Fianna Fáil Comhairle Ceantair were to hold a whist drive at Drumboylan National School on Sunday, 22nd March, 1953? Am I to understand that the Minister has made inquiries and that the manager of the school informed him that no such function is to take place? When I tabled this question, I sent in a copy of the advertisement which appeared in the local papers concerning this function.
Would I be in order in thanking Deputy Flanagan for the publicity he has given to the whist drive?
Then it is goingto take place in spite of the fact that the Minister says it is not?
I made all inquiries and these are the facts.